Okay, the Yanks continue to play their season long cat and mouse game with .500, with the mouse winning most of the matchups. They just can't seem to get any consistency. They just can't seem to take advantage of the opportunities they are given.
The offense scores in bunches one day, gets shut out the next. The starting pitchers are eratic at best with Rocket Roger Clemens pitching two great games in a row, only to come out and give up the kitchen sink to the lowly Devil Rays last night. The Bullpen continues to be a headache, good for at least 2-4 runs a game for the opposing team, and as great a manager as Joe Torre has been, his handling of the pitching staff still seems to be mystifying with little to no ryhym or reason to it (why, at this point in the season, would you still be treating your lowly bullpen like a first option escape clause when your starter gets in trouble?)
So even though there is a lot of baseball left, and the Yanks MAY have a big run on them (and the run only counts if it leads to a playoff birth), it might not be too presumptous to start thinking about what the Yanks need to do for the '08 season. Some of this could and should be done now. Some of it should be done in the offseason. But ALL of it needs to be done to change the business of the Yanks from controversial explanations to victory celebrations.
Let sleeping A-Rod's lie
The A-Rod saga of "will he, won't he" opt out needs to go away for the rest of the season. There is absolutely no benefit to keeping the story alive, either for A-Rod or for the Yanks. All it does is focus more negative energy and attention on the third baseman and we have seen in the past that it doesn't make for a happy A-Rod. Let the season play out. Baseball has a way of evening things out. It has a way of answering questions for you.
The Yanks may make a huge push and get back into the playoffs, where A-Rod might fail to hit yet again. The Yanks may collapse, with A-Rod having a miserable second half (unlikely, but possible) and the decision may very be an easy one. Or A-Rod may lead the Yanks to an improbable playoff and world series run, making him indispensable. The point is, a lot of things can happen.
But let's say the mostly likely scenario plays out. Let's say A-Rod waits until the end of the year, continues to have a huge year, and the Yanks finish just out of the running. At the end of the season, 10 days after the world series is over, the Yanks have a window to negotiate an extension with A-Rod. Try and work something out there. See what A-Rod is thinking, in terms of money, of his comfort level with New York, with his teammates, and with his future. See what the third baseman is thinking and feeling. And then, try and retain him with an extension past his current deal.
BUT (and this is the most important thing), make sure you have the guts to walk away if he does opt out. A-Rod is a great player but if teams are going to be offering him $35 mill a year, that is a price tag no one is worthy of. The Yanks could EASILY take the money they would save on A-Rod opting out plus the money they would have spent on him and sign two or three high quality players. They could addres hitting and pitching, and do it with players of the highest caliber. If that money is included in on an extension the sting isn't that bad. A-Rod has three more years left on his contract with The Texas Rangers paying a large portion of the remaining salary, meaning that, for three years at least, A-Rod continues to be a bargain. When the other worldly money comes into play, the Yanks would have a lot of money off the books or coming off the books. They would also have time to plan their payroll so the sting wouldn't be that bad.
Signing him to that money NOW would be foolish. As great as A-Rod is, he can't win a game himself, and this year, his shining year, is a great example of that.
Look south young man
The Yanks are always a NOW team, but eventually you have to learn the lessons of experience. The Yanks signed Johnny Damon after the 2005 season to play center. It was a move I liked and applauded. Sure, the money was a little steep, and Boston seemed to be soft on him, but Damon was a good leadoff hitter with decent power. He signed to a four year contract. Now, in year two, Damon is a liability who promises to deliver little on the remaining two and a half years left on his deal. His is broken down physically. His power numbers, his average, his ability to disrupt the game on the bases, have all been incredibly hampered by his injuries. Could he come back next season healthy and spry? Possibly, but highly inlikely.
The point is not to pile on Damon, who would be a productive hitter if his body were cooperating. The point is to say that the Yanks HAVE a good, promising center fielder on the team at the moment, youngster Melky Cabrera, and they might have saved themselves a lot of money and a lot of personnel headaches if they had given Melky a chance last year rather than signing Damon.
The Yanks MUST begin to elvaluate who in their minor league system is worthy of a call up, worthy of a chance, and who isn't. Who are the blue chippers? Who are the big players? When those players are identified, GIVE THEM A CHANCE!!!!! That isn't to say that the Yanks need to have a team full of rookies, but if next year the Yanks decide not to bring back Bobby Abreu or they let Alex Rodriguez walk off into the Anaheim sunset, would it bad a terrible thing to give one of the rookies in the minors a chance to prove their worth rather than waste another $60 mill on a veteran player who will almost certainly pass his prime well before his contract has expired?
Baseball is awash with money. Teams have the cash to sign their big players. They have the cash to committ to the guys who put the fans in the seats and give them an opportunity to be competitive each and every year. That means the days of simply reloading via the free agent market may very well be over. That means developing young talent is not just a luxury anymore, but a necessity.
The Yanks have proven in the past two years that youth can equal immense talent. Chien Mien Wang, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera have all been un heralded callups who have gone on the solidify their place on this team. Whose to say the next Cano isn't waiting in the wings?
OHHHHH, Bobby............OHHHH Bobby
Words cannot describe to you how little I enjoy watching Bobby Abreu play the game. He looks like a man punching in and out of a clock. Everyone you hear laments how much the man loves the game but it certainly doesn't show on the field. HOWEVER!!!!!! The consensus seems to be that Abreu is gone after this season. Why would the Yanks bring back someone batting .270 right now? But here is the problem: if you let Bobby Abreu go, who, exactly, is playing right field? With the looming A-Rod controversy, and the possibility of third base being open next year, Abreu's bat becomes incredibly important. If he hits in the second half, why let him go? His first half of the season has all but guaranteed you'll get him at well below his current $15 mill a year price tag and what are the chances that Abreu will continue to be as bad as he has looked this season? He is never hurt, keeps himself in very good condition, and when right is a perfect fit for this team. Now, if he falls apart completely in the second half, it would make little sense to keep him, but if he returns to his ways why not keep him around?
Abreu is a guy who thrives under the radar. As long as you can continue to take the pressure off of him, he could still thrive. Plus, he is only 33. That isn't old by any stretch these days and a player like Abreu, someone with no history of injury, seem to age very, very well. If he hits in the second half, who is to say that Abreu, who is a decent fielder in right with a good arm, couldn't be a productive player for the Yanks into his late 30's? And, again, it isn't as if the Yanks are awash with great young position player prospects in the outfield. They are far deeper at the infield positions than they are in the outfield.
Go get yourself a big Texan
The Yanks have a hole at first base. There's no question about that. Andy Phillips is a valuable off the bench player but he isn't a starter and never will be, no matter how much the Yanks build up his potential. Doug Mein-alphabet is injured and isn't the answer when healthy, Miguel Cairo filled in admirably for a few weeks but is still a fish out of water at the position, and Jason Giambi's future is as a full time DH, and possibly one for another team after this year.
That leaves a gapping hole at the corner spot.
Enter Mark Teixiera.
The big burly Texas Ranger is 27 year's old, a free agent after next year, a switch hitter with loads of power, a great defensive player, and a guy who desperately wants to go to a winner (meaning he wants out of Texas badly). He is a gritty player who gives his all each game and there is a good chance the star player has his best years ahead of him. By July 31 the Yanks should make getting this first baseman a priority.
Why? Isn't it pitching (especially the bullpen) that wins championships? Yes it is, but the days when a player like Teixeira is available on the market will be limited with the money in baseball right now and Teixeira helps this team right now and in the future. Think about this: If you trade for Teixeira and stick him at first base it gives the Yanks the BEST infield in the major leagues by far (granted Robinson Cano turns it around hitting wise). Now, going into next season, the Yanks would have Teixeira at a discount, having to pay him starting in 2009. By that time Giambi, Pavano, Damon and a whole host of other player's contracts will be off the books, meaning that, if you had to give Teixeira a $20 mill a year contract, the numbers wouldn't hurt that much when it happened to kick in. Let's say you convince A-Rod to accept a contract extension rather than opt out? That would give you an infield of A-Rod, Jeter, Cano, Teixeira for the next 8 years. That is an infield that could DOMINATE the majors for a long time to come. Now, let's say you don't convince A-Rod to stay and you let him go. Well, the blow of losing him is lessened by already have Tex there at first. He provides you with that big, young bat that you need, meaning that you aren't desperate for another bat come the beginning of next season.
A switch hitting first baseman who does it at the plate and on the field? What is there not to love that? Well, the one thing you don't like about it is that the Yanks would almost certainly have to give up one of their prized pitching prospects in any deal for the big righty, and Joba Chamberlain (who has quickly become the new Phil Hughes) would undoubtedly be at the top of that list. Would the Yanks give up such a prized prospect with a cannon for an arm? Well, the Yanks have a plethora of young, talented arms, and some of them MUST be used to acquire new talent. It will say a lot about Chamberlain if the Yanks put a Phil Hughes "don't even ask about him" label, but something for Teixeira should be figured out.
If your selling, someone is always buying
Last year the belief was the Yanks could never, ever get anything for Jason Giambi and his bloated contract (and considerable baggage). Come to find out, had the stocky left handed DH waived his no trade clause the Angels would have been very interested in acquiring him. It just proves that someone is ALWAYS ready to take on talented players, even when it seems like the odds of them regaining form are limited.
This leads us to the before mentioned Johnny Damon.
Again, I don't blame Johnny, but his body does seem to be breaking down. Now would be the time to consider moving him. Someone, somewhere would want the center fielder. He bring leadership and lead off hitting potential, and only two years left on his contract (meaning you aren't strapped into the guy for long if he doesn't pan out). Right now there is no doubt that Melky is the best center fielder on the team and, considering how bad Damon has been, it is hard to believe that Cabrera couldn't be a decent replacement at the top of the order for him. Damon will likely not regain control of the center field job again with the Yanks, making him a light hitting DH. That will just clog up the options available to the team and put Damon in a position not exactly suited for his overall success.
Trade Damon now, get something for him, commit to Melky in center, and begin the process of cutting ties with aged players who just can't do what you need them to do physically anymore.
Also, the Yanks have youngster Jose Tabatta in the minors right now, a star center field prospect who many have compared to the likes of Manny and Andruw Jones (without the considerable power of those two). He is already a GREAT defensive fielder and many feel that he is the future center field star for the team. That means that Melky AND Tabatta may be ready fo patrol the outfield for years to come. Damon is well liked and he is a gamer, but he is a chip the Yanks could move to get something back, even if it isn't the biggest prospect in the world.
It's Zambrano money
Something tells me the Cubs are gonna find a way to get a deal done with Zambrano before he hits the market, but if he doesn't the Yanks need to make him priority number one for the offseason. Zambrano is 25. He is a power pitcher with a gun for an arm and no history of injury problems. He is a horse who pitches well over 200 innings a season. And he is a gamer.
He would also bring a tremendous amount of character and attitude to a team that desperately needs it. Zambrano plays the game with passion without going out of his way to show anyone up. Sure, he may get into a fist fight with Jorge Posada in the 5th of every game, but so what? At least he would have the guts to stand up to Posada, as opposed to some more recent pitcher who chose to go behind his back with his problems:)
Now, Zambrano is going to demand a lot of money but he is worth it, and if the Yanks didn't bring back A-Rod the money would just about even out (especially if you got rid of Damon and brought Abreu back on a discount). Plus, if you decided to give up a Chamberlain in a deal for Teixeira, getting Zambrano would again lessen the blow because, at his best, Chamberlain would HOPE to be Zambrano.
If you could add a 25 year old Zambrano to a pitching staff that seems destined to already feature Chien Mein Wang and Phil Hughes, those are three top pitchers all under the age of 27 years old. That's not a bad pitching staff for the next 10 years at all.
So, if you're keeping score at home, if I had my way the 2008 season would open with this team:
CF Melky Cabrera
SS Derek Jeter
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
LF Hideki Matsui
C Jorge Posada
RF Bobby Abreu
DH (hopefully not Giambi, whose contract the Yanks should buy out) for now, we'll say Shelley Duncan
2B Robinson Cano
Starting rotation:
Chien Mein Wang
Carlos Zambrano
Andy Pettite
Phil Hughes
Mike Mussina
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